THE BBC has rejected demands by a senior Tory MP to take a more "patriotic" approach to broadcasting by restoring the tradition of playing the National Anthem at the end of each day.

The BBC has refused the a demand to play the National Anthem at the end of each day

The Corporation played God Save the Queen late at night until 3 October 1997 when it controversially decided to drop at the height of Tony Blair's "Cool Britannia" project after New Labour took power in May that year.

Romford MP Andrew Rossindell has put down an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament calling for the tradition to be reinstated to help celebrate the historic Brexit referendum result in June and the Queen's 90th birthday.

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It follows much criticism of the BBC taking a pro-EU line during the referendum and, according to a damning report, abandoning the neutrality expected in its Charter leading to suggestions it was being "unpatriotic".

Mr Rossindell said: "The British Broadcasting Corporation should be unashamedly British and playing our British National Anthem once a day on BBC1 is not much to ask.

"They used to do it and it's time it was restored, to send out a message that Britain is back, following Brexit in tribute to Her Majesty in this, her 90th year!"

His motion reads: "That this House calls upon the British Broadcasting Corporation to restore the British National Anthem on BBC1 at the end of each day's programming, before the switch over to BBC News 24; regrets the decision on the 3rd October 1997 to play God Save The Queen on BBC1 for the last time; and believes that this proud British tradition should be reinstated before the end of 2016, in honor of Her Majesty's ninetieth birthday."

A BBC spokesperson said: "We're aware of Mr Rosindell's interest in this issue as he has made the same request in seven previous Early Day Motions.

"The BBC continues to play the national anthem at appropriate times, such as during the broadcast of the Queen's Christmas broadcast.

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It was hoped God Save The Queen could return to BBC1 to celebrate the queen's 90th and Brexit

"We no longer play the national anthem on a daily basis on BBC One because it doesn't close down in the evening."

Patriotism is an important force which binds nations together

Romford MP Andrew Rossindell

Mr Rossindell made a similar attempt in 2001 and has been a strong supporter of promoting patriotism.

He states on his website: "Patriotism is an important force which binds nations together.

"In modern, diverse Britain, it is important that we have common culture and set of values to which we all adhere.

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"Flags, national holidays, celebrations of British identity - all of these help to bring people together."

The call for a more patriotic approach by the BBC follows the report published recently by News Watch where researchers analysed

31 Radio 4 programmes and features about Brexit, which were recently re-released by the station on iPlayer as a series entitled "The Brexit Collection".

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The refusal comes after the BBC received criticism for an alleged pro-EU bias before the referendum

Guest speakers who contributed to the programmes, which total 11.5 hours of audio, were 58 per cent in favour of Remain and only 23 per cent in favour of Brexit, with the remaining 19 percent providing neutral or factual commentary.

The report said: "There were no attempts in any programme to explore the benefits of leaving the EU, but conversely, Brexit came under sustained negative attack."